Railway signaling system



Feb. 25, 1930. V P, E, CARTER 1,748,910

RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed March 31, 1927 FIGQZ mmw M ATTORNEYfpos'ition dueto' a Patented Feb. 25, I930 I STATE-S fPA'uL' CARTER, or,BRoNXV LIQE, new YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAILWAY PATE Tfo'FFic vSIGNAL coMPANm'oF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK RAILWAY sienntme SYSTEM HApplication filed March 31, 1927. Serial N0. 179,916.

i This invention relates to railway train control systems. in general,and has more particular reference to such systems for single track roadsof the type known asiab'solute-permissive-blocksystems. a a In one'typeof system for single track railroads certain signals are governed in onemanner by trains moving in one direction and in a different mannerzbytrains moving in the opposite direction, andthe means for changing fromone manner of govermng to V the other comprises a stick relay energizedby 7 trains traveling in one direction and not energiz'ed by'trainstraveling in' the 'otherdirecti on, the energization of the stick relaysremoving a usual tumble-down operation of signals'and permittingoperation of such signals n the manner usual in double track sig- I nalsystems."

In this manner a train going in a given direction-prevents all trainmovement in the opposite directionwhile permit ting'following trainsto-proceed under usual restrictions. x

In systems of the character referred to above, it sometimes happensthatva section of track becomes shorted out, due to a non-insulated handcar, or a crow bar,

I V or the like bridging acrossfthe track rails, soasto thus stances,the signalscontrolling trafiic in both directions will be put to stop,main in such stop positioin-even after the shorting influence has beenremoved, thus "making the-system inoperative and necessitating'manualadjustment of certain parts of the system'beforethe signals return'totheir.

I: normally 'clearposition. In other'words, a

specifically,

characterized as a lock-up,

condition is brought'aboutwhich is-generally v and which amounts tosignals being placed in a certain given track influence, and failing toreturn to their normal position vupon said'infiuencebeing removed.

7 'With the above-and ,otherconsiderations in mind, it is proposed, inaccordance with this invention, to providerneans for preventing such. alock-up asrreferred to 'above.

it is prop'osed'to employ stick 61 relays for performing"; the usualfunction,

More

when energized, of removing the tumble- In such circum;

and will p re-.

down operationof certain signalsi,,as is yvell':v

known to those skilled in this particular art,

such stick relays being cross-connected to each haveits pick-up circuitrunning through a back contact of a-neighboring stick relay, thereby toprevent simultaneous pick-upof ner prevent a lock-up of the system.

Further objects, purposes, and characteristic features of the inventionwill appear as the. description progresses, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, showing,

solely by way of illustration, and in an ensuch cross-connected relaysand in this mantirely schematic manner, one'form of the in vention. Inthe drawings Fig. l is a schematic view of an interme- ,diate portion ofa stretchof single track rail;-

wayequipped with the present invention;

and, p w I v Fig. 2 is aschematic fragmentary view'o'f passing sidings,constituted by track-rails 1, divided into blocks 13, C, D, and in theusual manner, by insulating joints 2, each block being provided With ausual track battery 2" and track relay TL Various corresponding parts inthe different blocks are designated by similar reference characters withdistinguishing subnumbers etc.-

, I/Vaysidesignals 3, 5, etc., are provided along'the trackway forgoverning traffic in an easterly direction while signals 4' etc.areprovided for governing traflic in a westerly direction, the signalsbeing shownas color light signals giving the'usual'aspects for clear,caution, and danger, although the'se signals could equally well he ofthe position light or semap11 tyP arranged to govern the energization ofthe signal in "a well-knownmanner, (the control;

devices and circuits therefor not being Associatedwith each signal is Ishown)'therelay'beingofthe polarizedItype '7 having contact fingersassuming a biased neutral' positioirwhen de-energized, and a" positionto the right 'orlt'he left of the neutral,

depending on the polarity of energizing current, when the relay isenergized.

stick relay associated with asignal for gov erning traffic in theopposite direction, whereby the two stick relays referred to, can not lyto the latter.

both pick up at the same time.

F or the purpose of explaining the present invention, it will benecessary to only very "briefly discuss the usual operation of anabsolute-permissive-blocksystem of the character shown in Fig. 1,andhence the following description of such operation will not becompletein all its details, and for further expla nation of itsoperation, reference should be had to Patents .1,29l,736 of February'18, 1919 to S. N. Wight, and 1,386,073 of August 2, 1921 to Neil D.Preston, and more particular- To simplify the wiring diagram and theexplanation, positive, negative, and. common, wires from a suitablesource of energy as for example a storage battery, have been indicatedby the symbols, PB, NB, and C, respectively.

Assuming, for the purpose of illustration, that a train is traveling inan easterly direction, that is, from left to right, as viewed in thedrawing, on the stretch of track shown, when it enters block B, relay Twill be deenergiz ed to drop its contact fingers 7 and 8, dropping ofthe contact finger 7 operating to de-energize relay 4H governing signal4, through a circuit which is obvious from the drawing. On de-energization' of relay 4H, relay 4-Z is deenergized through an obviouscircuit, to thus put energy, on the signal 4: through contact finger 9and back contact of relay 4Z, to put signal 4 to stop De-energization ofrelay l-Z takes energy off of the wire 11, at. contact finger 10,leading to control means for the nextsignal to the right which governswest bound trafiic to thereby putsuch signal to stop, and this wellknown tumble down effect carries through to the easterly entrance end ofthe single track stretch, to there} by prevent any westbound traflicfromentering on the single track portion bet'weenthe two sidings until eastbound traffic has left this stretch of track. v

Upon the train in question passing into block C, relay T is de-energizedto drop its contact fingers 11', 12' and 13. Dropping 'away ofcontact'finger 12 de-energizesrelay I 3H to thereby set signal 3 at stopand protect the train in question from following trains.

Upon de-energization of relay 3H, relay 355 is de-energized at the polarcontact finger 14 of relay 3H, but inasmuch as the relays 3Z, 4Z, etc.are made slow acting, in any de sired manner, the contactfinger 15 ofrelay 3Z does not drop away until after relay 38 has picked up itscontact finger 16 through a pickup circuit which can be readily'tracedfrom the drawing and which includes contact finger 15 and front contactof relay 3Z, contact finger 13 and-back contact of track relay T contactfinger 17 and back contact of relay tZ, and contact finger 18 and backcontact of relay 4S. Upon picking up the contact finger 16 of stickrelay 38, a stick circuit is completed to maintain relayBS in energizedcondition, such stick-up circuit including contact finger 16 and frontcontact of relay 3S, and contact finger 19 and neutralcontact of relay3H.

The function of stick relay 38, is to make inoperative the normaltumble-down connection between the various relays 5H, 3H etc, and aconsiderationof Fig. 1 shows that on energization of stick relay 3S, itscontact finger 20 is picked up to thereby put reverse energy on a relay1H (not shown in the drawing) which controls the next signal to the leftOf' signal 3, for controlling tralfic in an easterly direction, suchrelay 1H being energized through a circuit which includes the contactfinger 20 and front contact ofrelay 3S, wire 21, contact finger 22 andback contact of relay 3Z, wire 23, contact. finger S and front contactof relay T etc. lVere it not for the stick relay 38 being picked up,dropping away of contact finger 22 of relay 8Z would take allenergy offof relay 11-1, in a typical tumble-down circuit fashion. The arrangementas shown in the drawing is such that the stick relays are energized toprevent'the tumble-down feature from operating with regardto thosesignals in the rear ofa moving train and governing traffic in-thedirection under consider? ation while those signals governing traffic inthe opposite direction do not have theirstick relays so ener ized, sothat the tumble-down feature is operative, as explained above,wit hregard to the operation, for example, of Sig nal 6 (not shown) throughwire 11,- upon the setting of signald to danger. j c As the trainprogresses along the trackway, and entersblock D, track relay T istactfinger 24. to maintain theabove referred its contact finger 25, tomaintain de-energized the relay 3H, to thereby keep signal 3 at stop. 7Uponthe train entering block E relay T is picked up, while relay T5 isde-energized to drop its contact fingers 26 and 27 In the same manner asfor the relays asde energized and operates through its con a short:periodof time, during tact finger thus put I Also, with relay 3H nowreenergized,-even tion, and, when so and- 4S, wherein a system, shown inFig.

1 3,, t.o"a source-of energy C, as in v that'thepick-up circuit forrelay'es includes forf example as by a hand car 'P Pe y" I .$1 1 t d,

sociated with si'gnal3, the relay 51-1 is deenergized thus putting its.signal 5 at stop and causing de-energization of relay 5Z' after whichvperiod of time the stick relay BS is picked up through a pickrup circuitincluding contact finger 28. and front contact of relay 5Z, con- 27and-front contact of relay '1 etc, and is then maintained, picked-up bya stick circuitincluding its own contact finger 2 9 and frontcontact,andcontact finger 30 of relay 5H in Ide-energized position. Withcontact finger 31, picked up, negative energy is put 'on relay 3H,controllingsignal 3,

throngh acircuit includingcontact finger 31' andnfront contact of relay5S, contact finger 32 and back contact of relay 5Z, contact fin.- ger 25and front contact of relay T etc., to

signal 3 at caution as it should be.

though reversely, relay 3Z is energized and contact finger 22 reappliespositive energy to relay 1H, (*not shown), permitting the sig .nal l;-(not shown) i to clear.

It is seen from the above that the. stick relays, such for example, as5Sare arranged to be, energized for traffic in but one direcenergizedprevent the tumble-down operation between signal relays, such,forinstance, as relays 5H and 3H,

and instead permit these relays to be govrn c n the. u al manne doubletrack namely,jto permit the signals nal yst ms,

caution and clear lndlcations to assum s op,

in accordance with the trafiic conditions wire 33 of Fig; l, and acontact fin'ger,13'... to a second source 0 as in Fig. 2.. It now, trackrelayl'l is shunted out, inthe section G, other than by ,a traintraveling over the rails,such which is not like, ibridgingacross the tworails, the relay T will dropfand' through its finger 11" and 12' willrespectively de-energize signal con- 4H 7 and which in "turn will placesignals 4 and 3 res'pectively to danger. Before dropping away ofthecon-t'act fingers of the relays lZ'and 3Z'which, areyof course,d-energized on. deeenergiz'ation of: their con trol relays responding Hrelays,.the two, stickrelays 4S 7 for the moment, that the or'bya crowbar or the p and 38 will respectively be energized through v theirpick-up circuits, which, in the modification of Fig. 2, assumed for-theinclude respectively contact; fingenla and back contact of relay Tandcontact finger 13 and back contact of relayQTt When once energizedthrough their pick-up cir-, cuits, the stick relays 4S, and 3S willremain stuck up throughtheir stick circuits which have been tracedabove. v. c p

The next-signal to the left of signal. 3,

goyerning-traflic in an easterly direction will go to caution, wlnlethenext signal to the right'ot signal 4, governing, west bound traf fic,,-t,will. likewise go "to'caution," upon the si 'nals'iiand 4 golng't-odanger.

Upon removal of theshort circuit between moment,

the track rails -l in the block G, relay T will be picked up, but thevarious signals at stop and caution will remain at stop and caution eventhough the condition which resulted, in

tions,'has been removed. I c y This is due to the fact that relay ZiI-I,con.- trolling signal 3, can not be energized unless stick relay 48 isde-energ-ized, and relay 4H, controlling signal l, can not be energizedunlessfstickrelay 3S'be de-energizcd, since the energizing circuits forrelays 3H and 4H include, respectively, contact fingers and backcontacts 34: and 35, respectively,of stick their assuming their stopandcaution posirelays/4S- and 3S, In other words, inorder that the signalsset; at danger be restoredto clear, their control relays-must beenergized,

and in order that such control relays be energ zed, it is necessary thatstick relay-s be ,de-energized, and since'the stick relays in a questionare energized and cannot be deenergized except by break ngthelr stlckcircuits by GIIBI'glZZLtlOllOf the control relays H forthe signals, alocked-up condition exists which cannot be overcome except by manuallybreaking the stick circuit circuit for one of thestick relays. 8S .orlS.

It should be particularly noted thatthe stick circuit for; each ofthestick relays, 3S and S-in'cludes a contact finger of the correspond ingH relay in de-energized position and the energizing circuit for eachof'the; relays 3H and H1 includes, respectively, back point Of.

, 115' the other S relay, that '1s,of relay LS d 3S, .1 Z

respectively. Thus, energization of the relays depends onde-energization of the. S,

relays, and, in turn, de-energiZat-ion oi the i 1' g. a lockedsupCOIldllJlOIl inca't-f relays depends on energizat-ion of the H relays,thus givin pablejof automatic restoration. v

In orderto overcome any possibility of the occurrence of a conditionsuch as, lust described above,- the construct-ion shown in F ig.

l' is employed, wherein, as described above,

the stick relay 3S forexample hasa pick-up circuit passing through. thecontact finger and V back contact of stick relay 4S. In like manner.stick. relaylSfhas a. pickup circuitiwhich tion, as shown in Fig. 2.Under the same conditions, with the constructionof Fig. 1, the relays 3Hand 4H, as in the former case,will he tie-energized, ann will set theirrespective signals 3 and a at stop, and after an interval of time, willcause the dropping away of the contact fingers of the slow acting relays3Z and 4Z. I p

' lt-will he noted that the pick-up circuit for relay 3Srequires ZZZ upand 455 down, whereas the pick-u; circuit for relays 43' requires 3Zdown and lZ up, or, in other words the requirements for pick-up of thetwo stick relays are diametrically opposed and hence cannotsimultaneously exist. Accordingly, depending upon which one of the two Zrelays, :JZ or 4. 1, drops its contact finger 15 or 17 first, isdependent which one of the two stick relays, 3S and 43, picks up. If onestick relay is once picked up, the other stick relay cannot pick up,since each one has its pick-up circuit running through a back contact ofthe other one. I r 7 Assuming, for example, that relay 3Z drops itscontact finger 15, before relay tZ drops its contact finger 17, thepick-up circuit for the' relay as will be completed, and the 4S relaywill pick-up and thus prevent relay 38 from picking up, due to pick-upof contact finger 18 of relay is;

The condition that now exists is that sig na ls 3 and "I are stop, therelays 3H and 4H are de-energized, relay ls being picked up and stuckup, the relay 35 being de-energized, and relays 3Z and 42 both being(ls-energized. In such circumstances, upon'removal of the means causingde-energization of track relay 7 T4, such track relay will pick up itsfingers 11 12 and 13. Picking up of finger 11 permits re-energization ofrelay 4H,since contact finger 35 of stick relay 3S is in'its detractedposition. Energization of relay 4H breaks the stick circuit for stickrelay 48 at Contact finger 36 of relay 4H, thus permitting contactfinger 34 of stick relay 4S to assume its detracted position to therebyre-energize re lay 3H. 1

Thus the various relays are restored to their normal positions,as'likewise are the signals, upon removal of the condition which placedthe signals at danger, so that the system automatically restores itselfto normal operative condition. 7

From the connections andarrangements of parts as shown in Fig. 1, it isseen that a locked-up condition due to causes such as enumerated above,is quite impossible, whereas with the arrangement as depicted in Fig. 2,and which has heretofore beengenerally employed, such a locked-upcondition necescausation such as enumerated above.

The above ratherspecific description of one form'of the invention, isshown solely by way oi example, and is not intended, in any man nerwhatsoever, in a limiting sense. Obviously, the invention can assumemany different physical forms, and is susceptible of numerousmodifications, and it is intended to include, in this application, allsuchforms and modifications as come within the appended claims. 7

' Having described my invention, I now claim 1. In a traffic controlsystem for single track, signal control means for governing trafiic inone direction, signal control means for governing tratfic in theopposite direction, an energizing circuit for each of the signal controlmeans, a trafiic responsive means controlling both of said energizingcircuits, a first relay associated with, and con trolled by, each ofthe'signal control means, a second relay associatedwith each, of thesignal control means and controlling the energizing circuit of the othersignal control means, each of said second relays having an enrgizingcircuit controlled by said tr'afiic responsive means.

sarily occurs upon every occurrence of a 2. In a trafiic' control systemfor single 7 track, signal control-means for governing tralficin onedirection, signal control means opposite direction,

for governing trafiic in the an energizing circuit for each of thesignal control means, a traflic responsive means controlling bothof saidenergizing circuits, a first relay associated with, and controlled byeach of the signal control means, a second relay associated with each ofthe signal con trol means and controlling the energizing circuit of theother signal control means, each of said second relays having'an'energizing circuit controlled by said 'tratfic responsive means and byboth'of the said first relays.

3. In a trafiic control system for single track, signal control meansfor governing tratfic in one direction, signal control means forgoverning traiiic in the opposite direction} -means and by the saidfirst relay controlled by the other signal control means. 7 V

4. In a tralfic control system for single track, signal control meansfor governing tratiic in onedirectiom'signal control means for governingtraiiic in the opposite direction, an'energizing circuit for each of thesignal control means, a trafiic responsive means controlling both ofsaid energizing circuits, a first relay associated with, and controlledby, each of the signal control means, a stick relay associated with eachof the signal control means and controlling the energizing circuit ofthe other signal control means, each of ,said stick relays having apick-up circuit controlled by said traflic responsive means.

5. In a traffic control system for single track, signal control meansfor] governing trafiic in one direction, signal control means forgoverning traffic in the opposite direction, an, energizing circuit foreach of the signal control means, a traffic responsive means controllingboth of said energizing circuits, a first relay associatedwith, andcontrolled y, relay associated With each of the signal control means andcontrolling the energizing circuit of the other signal control means,each of said stick relays having a pick-up circuit controlled by saidtraffic responsive means, and a stick circuit for each stick relaycontrolled by its respective signal control means.

6. In a traflic control system for single track, signal control meansfor governing traffic in one direction, signal control means forgoverning traffic in the opposite direction, an energizing circuit foreach otthe signal control means, a traliic responsive means controllingboth of said energizing circuits, a slow acting first relay'associatedwith, and controlled by, each of the signal control means, a stickrelay'associated with each of the signal control means and controllingthe energizing circuit of the other signal control means, each of saidstick .relays having a pick-up circuit controlled by said traflicresponsive means.

, 7 In a single track trafiic control system, signal control means fortratiic in one direction, signal control'means for traffic in theopposite direction, a trafiic responsive means controlling theenergizing circuits for said signal control means, a stick relayassociated with each of the signal control means and controlling theenergizing circuit for the other signal control means, a pick up circuitfor each ofthe stick relays, a relay associated with, and controlled by,each signal control means, said pick up circuit for each stick relayincluding a contact of its associated said relay, a contact of thetraffic responsive means, a contact of the other said relay, and acontact'of the otherstick relay.

8. Ina single track traflic control system,

each of the signal control means, a stick tion,; signal controh meansfor traffic in the opposite direct-ion, a traiiicresponsive meanscontrolling theenergizing circuits for said signal control means, astick relay associated with each of the signal control means andcontrolling the energizing circuit for the other signal control for.each of the stick relays, a relay associated with,- and controlled by,each signal control means, said pick up circuit for each stick relayincluding a front contact of the associated said relay, and a backcontact of the other said relay.

9. In a single track traffic control system, signal controlmeans fortraiiic in one direction, signal control means for. tratlic in the I atraflic responsive means controlling the ener izing circuits for saidopposite direction,

6 signal control means, a stick relay associated with each of the signalcontrol means for controlling an energizing circuit for the other signalcontrol means, a pick up circuit for each of the stick relays completedthrough a back contact of the other stick relay, whereby topreventcompletion of the pick up cir cuits of both stick relays at any onetime.

10. In a single track tratlic control system, signal control means fortraffic in one direction, opposite direction, a traffic responsive meanscontrolling the energizing circuits for said signal control means,astick relay associated with each of the signal control means andcontrolling the energizing circuit vfor theother signal control means, apick up cir-.

cuit for each of the stick relays, the stick relays being crossconnected to prevent simultaneous pick up of the same.

1.1. In a single track railway system, a signal governing traliic in onedirection, another signal governing traliic in the other direction,

a stick relay associated with each of said sig i at one time. Y

12. In a single track railway system, a signal governing tra'tiic in onedirection, another signal governing trafiic in the other direction,

': a stick relay associated with each of said signals which whenenergized permits the next signal in the rear to assume the cautionposimeans, a pick up circuitsignal control means for trafiic in thesignal control means for traffic in one direcnals which When energizedpermits the nexttion, a pick-up circuit for one stick relay ina eludinga back contact of the other stick relay, and a pick-up circuit for saidother stick relay including a back contact of said one stick relay.

13. In a single track railway system, a sig nal governing traffic in onedirection, another signal governing traffic in the other direction, astick relay associated With each of said signals which when energizedpermits the next signal in the rear to assume the caution position, apick-up circuit for one stick relay including a line Wire and a contactclosed when the other stick relay is cle-energized, and a pick-upcircuit for the other stick relay including the same line Wire and acontact closed when said one stick relay is de-energized. v

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

. PAUL E. CARTER.

